Tag: Environment
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Ecologists working to better understand and protect the environment
As part of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) studies, environmental specialists are carrying out inventories of wildlife, flora and natural habitats in France and Switzerland. Before any decision is taken on the project, this work aims to establish a baseline of the areas under consideration and to provide an improved understanding of any potential environmental
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Integrating renewable solar energy to cover CERN’s energy needs: a subtle and complex balancing act
Less than two years after CERN signed three long-term solar power purchase agreements (PPAs), two of the three installations are now fully operational. Following successful commissioning and testing phases, the Terres Salées solar plant, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France, began supplying electricity in May 2026. The Séranon plant, in the Alpes-Maritimes department, followed
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Re-use, recovery and sale of CERN property: updated procedure
The procedure for the recovery and sale of CERN property was revised on 2 October 2026. This update clarifies the categorisation of property and the procedures to be followed for its re-use, recovery and disposal. Its purpose is to standardise practices, improve safety and traceability, and encourage the re-use of property wherever possible. What is
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“La nuit est belle!” 2026
Starting on the evening of Friday, 9 October, CERN will participate in the sixth edition of “La nuit est belle !”. Thanks to this initiative, turning off or dimming street lighting in the middle of the night has become common practice across the Geneva canton. For this edition, “La nuit est belle !” invites the public
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Waste management during LS3: we all have a role to play
Long Shutdown periods generate large volumes of waste across CERN sites. During Long Shutdown 3 (LS3), maintaining good waste management practices is particularly important to ensure safety and minimise environmental impacts and costs. As part of its environmental and sustainable development strategy, CERN has set environmental objectives for 2030, including specific targets related to waste
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Efficiency meets environmental responsibility: commissioning CERN’s primary CO₂ cooling circuit
The ATLAS and CMS detectors require ultra-low, stable temperatures to protect their sensitive electronics. Traditional cooling systems rely on synthetic refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which, while effective, have a global warming potential thousands of times greater than CO₂. Seeking a sustainable alternative, CERN has turned to CO₂ itself – a natural refrigerant with a far
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CERN: a haven for birds
CERN is not just a hub for groundbreaking research, it’s also a thriving sanctuary for biodiversity. Spanning 625 hectares, with 415 hectares of non-built environments, CERN’s sites host a remarkable variety of habitats, from forests and meadows to wetlands. These spaces provide a home to over 70 bird species, including the swift, woodpigeon, golden oriole,
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Explore CERN’s biodiversity: new orchid and late-mowing panels installed
CERN’s commitment to biodiversity is now more visible than ever! Nineteen new information panels have been installed around the Meyrin site, offering everyone the chance to learn about the different orchid species that call CERN home. Five of these panels focus on the importance of late mowing, a practice that allows flora to complete its
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First timber beam installed for CERN’s new Building 777
On Friday, 14 April 2026, CERN celebrated an important milestone in the construction of the future Building 777 on the Prévessin site: instead of laying the traditional foundation stone, the project started with the installation of its very first timber beam (or “la première poutre”), a reflection of the building’s sustainable design. Mar Capeáns, CERN’s